✔️Just You and I (Edward Cullen)

Chapter 39

The Cullen kitchen was walled by a giant pane of glass overlooking the ground and the Denali house settled in the opposite side of the clearing. But at nighttime, the glass turned into a giant mirror as Holly and Josh stood side-by-side cooking up a storm fit for kings despite the fact that there were only two of them that could eat. The kitchen was so clean and well equipped, it seemed a shame not to try extravagant meals and since they were cooking pasta, it just made sense that they had cooked far too much. Holly did not think she would ever learn how to portion control pasta. 

"Taste test this," Josh decided and held the wooden spoon up to her lips. Holly nearly tumbled backwards in shock at the force but proceeded to taste it tentatively regardless, holding his hand still so he didn't poor the sauce down the front of her black funeral dress. It had been an emotional day to say the least but the worst part had been seeing Bonnie and Toby, holding them in her arms and listening to them as they actively told her they wanted to return home with their aunt. The offer had been extended to Holly too but she hadn't accepted, still in Denali for the foreseeable future at least.

"Mmm," she breathed, her appetite renewed after a long day of crying her heart out. 

"What do we have here?" Tanya mused as she walked around the corner. She looked as stunning as ever with her hair like snow in rowdy curls that had been tied seemingly randomly at the base of her neck. Still, it looked as though a hairdresser could have done it. Tanya was always beautiful. The vampires all were. Even her dress was exquisite, flowing around her legs despite the cold outside the window, snow falling. 

"Hmm," Josh sighed, leaning back against the counter and looking at her as though she was as tasty as the food they'd just cooked. Holly crinkled her nose slightly, wondering if she and Edward acted that way as she switched off the various knobs and produced two pure white porcelain bowls. Tanya was beside Josh in an instant and Holly didn't even flinch, so used to it. Josh shivered only slightly. "You have been hunting," Josh stated looking into her almost-yellow eyes. 

"Well, I had to do something to satisfy me while you were gone," Tanya remarked with a smirk and Holly coughed.

"I will be leaving now," she stated, placing her food on a tray and Tanya smiled innocently at her. 

"Okay, Love," Tanya smiled. "See you later."

Holly walked away as fast as she could with her food tray, up the stairs and managing to avoid most of the vampires as she went. They were all busy now that night hours had fallen. Her cooking with Josh had taken longer than expected. He had been present for the funeral also, as well as Esme, Carlisle and Rosalie who had spent a lot of time with the woman in later days.

Holly tried to push the thought away as she entered Edward's bedroom and put her tray on his desk, too cold to go out onto the balcony to eat. 

Edward appeared through the door half a second later, having returned with Tanya from hunting and he was still pristine in his funeral suit. The sight of it made her look away. In half a second he'd turned the light on, wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and taken off his own jacket. 

Holly ate her food slowly and he didn't press her to speak while she did, taking himself away to change while she did and soon enough he was back, dressed more casually and laying out some pajamas on his bed for her, courtesy of Alice.

It was only when she finished her food that she came to him herself, dropping the blanket and stepping out of her heels in the middle of his rug. Edward opened his arms to her and she simply pushed him down onto the bed. He allowed her to. 

Holly climbed up onto his body, still fully clothed and lay her head against his chest, letting him hold her for a long moment. She did not cry but it just meant a lot to be held by him. Edward pressed kisses to her forehead and she closed her eyes, wallowing in her sadness for what she promised herself would be the last time. Her grandmother had told her to be happy and it was about time she started acting on those words.

"I love you," Edward breathed and she smiled. 

"I love you more."

"I don't think that's physically possible," Edward chuckled.